Jofrank Cubol

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Jofrank Ambion Cubol, 39, on June 16, 2026. He was born in Manila, Philippines on January 1, 1987 to his parents, Nancie Ambion and Eliseo Cubol.

Jofrank was born a writer. He was a published author at age 11, when a poem he wrote for his mom appeared in the pages of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. He attended Don Bosco Technical College in the Philippines (Pro Deo et Patria!) from elementary to high school, and was both a basketball athlete and editor-in-chief of the school yearbook.

He moved to Yonkers, New York, at the age of 17 with his family and attended Westchester Community College, where he met some of his closest friends and ran the school paper. He later transferred to Fordham University (Go Rams!), where he completed degrees in journalism and political science. During this time, he became an avid representative of Filipino culture, interviewing Filipino luminaries such as Lea Salonga and Chef Dale Talde. Professionally, he was a sales supervisor who was loved for his leadership, empathy, and dedication to his teams, and is remembered for the friendships he forged beyond work.

To those closest to him, Jof was the kindest, most caring, and most generous person. His love language was cooking for people — welcoming everyone with open arms, surrounding them with warmth, always cracking a smile or a joke to make others feel comfortable, as if he were on a mission to make you feel loved. He was the type of person to drop everything when you needed him, someone you could always depend on; he embodied his role as “Kuya,” or older brother, to perfection.

Jof was the ultimate sneakerhead and loved the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Lakers, Marvel movies, the Back to the Future trilogy, Anthony Bourdain, and Kobe Bryant. His life is a beautiful example of pure and unbridled passion — loving fully, savoring the things that made him feel alive, and giving himself wholeheartedly to those he loved most.

He is survived by his wife, Monique; his mom, Nancie; his dad, Eliseo; his dog-ther, Nike; his younger brother, Jomi; and his sister-in-law, Rona, all of whom love him deeply and will miss his physical presence, even as his spirit lives on in their hearts for the rest of their lives.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate and honor his life on Saturday, 1–5 p.m., and Sunday, 1–5 p.m., at Zuasola Funeral Homes, 101 Union Ave, Belleville, NJ 07109, where there will be a visitation on both days. As Kobe Bryant once said, a line Jof truly lived by: “You are responsible for how people remember you, or don’t... So don’t take it lightly.”

Cremation will be held privately.